1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria: I truly made a mistake buying this car; it’s really awful

In 1954, Ford added an innovative body style to the upscale Crestline series, the Victoria Skyliner. “Victoria” was a time-honored name in Ford history. During the 1930s it was a stylish bustle-back two-door sedan. When “hardtop convertibles” swept the industry in the 1950s, Ford readied its own version, styled by renowned designer Gordon Beuhrig. A late introduction during the 1951 model year, it reprised the Victoria name.

For the Victoria hardtop coupe’s fourth season another wrinkle was added. Companion to the “ordinary” Victoria was a version with an acrylic glass panel in the forward part of the roof. Advertising boasted of a “freshness of view,” offering some of the sensations of the soft-top Sunliner convertible while providing all-weather comfort. To reduce glare, the transparent panel was given a green tint, and a removable sun shade was added during the year. Innovations satisfy the cravings of early adopters, and the Skyliner was no exception: 13,144 were sold in the introductory year.

For 1955, Ford added yet another wrinkle to the Victoria lineup, the Crown Victoria. The Crown Vic had a sleeker roof than the basic Victoria, and a heavy chrome tiara or “basket handle” incorporating slanting B-pillars. The Crown Victoria was offered with either a full steel roof or as a Skyliner sub-model. There were thus three Victorias, the standard model with “upright” roof, selling 113,372 cars; the steel-roof Crown Vic, with 33,165; and the rare Skyliner Crown Vic, with just 1,999 built.

By 1956, all Victoria coupes had the sleeker roof and there was a new Town Victoria four-door hardtop. As the novelty faded, Crown Victoria production retreated to under 10,000 units, and the Crown Vic Skyliner to slightly more than 600. For 1957 the Skyliner name would be applied to yet another innovation, the retractable hard top.

One of reportedly six 1956 Skyliners with the rare three-speed overdrive transmission, this car was an AACA National First winner during the 1990s. After purchase from Raleigh Classic Cars in North Carolina in 2007, it was subjected to a frame-off, nut-and-bolt restoration, recently completed. Unrotted and unrusted, it was subjected to complete disassembly, rotisserie refurbishment and a full engine overhaul. The original seats were retained. In all, the restoration involved more than 1,000 hours of work and $7,500 in new parts. Documentation and photos of the process are available.

Currently showing slightly under 74,000 miles, it comes with an original owner’s manual and is comprehensively accessorized. It is equipped with rocker panel moldings, lower fender moldings, lower quarter panel moldings and front and rear bumper push bars. It has left and right spotlights, a Continental kit, accessory floor mats and plastic seat covers. A very rare version of a rare body style, it has not been shown competitively since restoration, making it an excellent candidate for the upcoming debutant season.